Allaso Ranch Test Weekend

Allaso Ranch dining hall and worship center
Mountain bike trails
Horseback riding on the Ranch
We spent the day at the almost-ready-for-campers, FC Allaso Ranch. This place is amazing! Not only is it equipped with anything and everything kiddos and like-minded adults would ever want from their dream summer camp, but it's certainly a place where incredible, positive change will happen in their lives. I couldn't be more proud and excited for what's to come here.

Allaso Ranch Test Weekend

Matt and I headed a couple hours east today to spend the weekend testing out the brand new FC Allaso Ranch! Allaso (which in Greek means Change) is the new home of our incredible FC Kids camp. We'll join other FC members to turn the knobs, flip the switches, bike the trails, swim the swim center, sleep in the cabins, try out the state-of-the art dining hall and worship center, and more for the upcoming inaugural summer camp season. I'm beyond excited about being a 2nd-5th grade girls camp counselor for a week this summer!

Daydreaming

I think I'd like to live here. :o)

Hard at Work

Rocked out a productive day of client presentations and brainstorms. Here's some shots of just a couple of the break-out areas we had set up for the teams. Creative and effective!

Meetings in the Windy City

In Chicago today and tomorrow for client meetings. Staying at the sweet Hotel Sax, formerly the House of Blues Hotel. Loved the vibe!

A Spicy Day

Spent the day focusing on work.

Wrapping Up A Great Weekend

Mom, Matt and I started the day with FC service, I taught the FC kiddos during 11 o'clock service and mom and I wrapped up the weekend with lunch at Asian Mint. I really enjoyed getting to spend the weekend celebrating her in Dallas!

Celebrating Mom Weekend

Today, we got in a little culture with visits to the DMA and Nasher Sculpture Center. We also took advantage of the girlie time and checked out the movie, What Happens In Vegas, before meeting up with Matt for dinner at Mango Thai and the DVD, Lars and The Real Girl. Ah, and of course we made time to clock in some surveillance time for mamma P.I. ;o).

Belated Mother's Day Weekend

My mom flew in this weekend to play around Dallas! We spent the day patio lunching at Kathleen's Sky Diner, shopping Grapevine Mills, cooking dinner w/ MLB, and chillaxing with the cutie DVD, 27 Dresses. Oh, and to give the day an interesting twist ... my mom's a certified Private Investigator so she took me along on one of her "projects" and I learned the fine art of surveillance! Very Sherlock Holmes of us ;o)

Best Things In Life

(via FFFFOUND!)

Hanging with Nico

Less than 20 hours into his world debut, I got to meet and hang out with baby Nico :o) He was incredibly chillaxed ... definitely a Wilco Jr. ;o)

The World Welcomes Nico Willem

What an exciting day for the Ravestijn's! I'm thrilled to share that Kelly & Wilco are proud new parents of Nico Willem Ravestijn at 3:32 p.m. today! (weighing 7lbs 15oz, measuring 20.5 inches long) I'm now the doting Tante Abbie (Aunt "Abbie" in Dutch), ready to spoil this little soccer legacy rotten ;o) Kelly's even set up a sweet site to follow the little Dutchican.

My Favorite TV Channel

via (FFFFOUND!)

Happy Mother's Day!

Casey & I are certainly blessed to have the mom that God gave us. Today I celebrate a woman of great strength and admirable character. I'm beyond grateful for a mother that I'm proud to look up to and who has given me a million reasons to thank her. Hands down, she has the most compassionate soul and giving heart. She was born to nurture and has a passion for life with increasingly spunky sense of adventure. I love and appreciate you, mom!

The "Lost Summer" Reunites

Our dear friend, Robert, came in from Alaska to visit this weekend! Along with Mel and Cody, Soums came in from Austin, & Crystal joined us from Chicago. We caught up over dinner at Sangria and some quite entertaining lounge time at the Ritz -Carlton's Live Oak Outdoor Lounge.

Home Improvement with Heart

Awesome day! Our FC Mckinney Ave Change Group and the Oaklawn Change Group partnered together to Spread the Change with PHP, People helping People, an organization which helps Senior and Disabled Citizens with home repair.

Sunset at White Rock

Matt and I wrapped up the week with a sunset bike ride and picnic dinner at White Rock Lake while Soums arrived a little later for a weekend visit.

Busy Week

Spending a lot of time thinking about hot sauce.

Catching up with Kristin

Kristin and I got to catch up this eve at Mi Cocina in The Galleria. She's one of the most ambitious, good-hearted junior planners I know and has a bright shiny future with unlimited potential. I'm grateful to have worked together at The Pub and I look forward to helping and following her success!

How To Work Better

(via WeHeartIt)

searchme: New Visual Search Engine

There's a better way to search than by looking at a dozen links with snippets on a page. searchme is an efficient new search engine that lets you scan resulting pages visually.

Staycationing

As the long Memorial Day weekend approaches, I have a feeling many people will be taking a "staycation" this year. With surging gas prices, a saggy economy, and greater efforts to bolster savings, a vacation spent in or near your own city makes perfect cents (pun intended).

Note to Self

(via ali edwards)

Celebrating the Ravestijn's at Henk's

Kel at 9 months with Nico (any day now), Sasha, Jason, & Carrie

Sasha, yours truly, & Sarai rockin' "Guacamole!" for our initiation to Henk's

Our German live music leader on the accordion, Al, in full lederhosen with 92-year-old Lizzy on the mic (she had the entire place clapping along and singing traditional German songs!).

Tonight, we honored Kelly, Wilco, and soon-to-arrive baby Nico by getting the gang together for dinner, drinks, group singalongs and a really fun time at Henk's. If you've never been there ... it's a must-experience!

Henk's European Deli & Black Forrest Bakery is a little international gem with big personality! The food is traditional & tasty. The people and atmosphere are genuine. The bakery is wonderful. Lunch is always good. Dinner on Friday or Saturday (the only nights they're open) is not to be missed: featuring German beer singalongs, live accordion music, and affordably frothy imported beer. It's one of Kelly & Wilco's favs & I'm grateful to have been introduced to it tonight. Fun times!

Gal Pals' Patio Visit

Chelsi, Gayla, and I met up after work today for a little catch up time. I sure do miss working with these ladies but I appreciate how former colleagues have become friends who I always enjoy visiting.